Spring has Sprung in the glorious Yorkshire Dales!

The clocks spring forward tonight into British Summer Time, sometimes called Daylight Saving Time, and then we’re really truly into Spring, my feeling at least. The Spring Equinox, Astronomical Spring when day and night are of equal length, passed on 20 March.  In meteorological terms, Spring is marked on 1 March so we’re definitely heading forward. Just love how everything starts to stir as the days go by, snowdrops have been long out, crocuses, daffodils, wood anemone, wild garlic and more. The birds are just wonderful, all finding their mates. Have you downloaded the Merlin app onto your phone, an amazing tool to find out which birds are singing at anyone time and it’s free.  Also to discover which plants and trees you’re passing I use PlantNet also free! You may have your own favourite apps by now though.

But why do we ‘change the clocks’? Benjamin Franklin in American first toyed with the idea, then New Zealand scientist George Vernon Hudson wanted to put the time forward by two hours for the summer months. A builder called William Willett in Britain wanted to change the clocks and he campaigned until he died in March 1915. Incidentally, he is the great-great-grandfather of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, I shall now listen to their track Clocks with renewed interest! Not until spring of 1916, during World War One, when the German army turned the clocks forward as a way of conserving energy encouraging many European governments to follow suit shortly afterwards including the UK. To find our more you might like to follow this link to Wikipedia

But, of course, the Yorkshire Dales are just wonderful at this time of year. Don’t forget the lambs, which appear over night, literally! Such a joyous sight on a Spring day. Sensational cloud formations on some days and others, clear blue; dark, dark, starry nights; there can be a certain light through the day that makes the hills look so different to its winter cloak, quite delicate somehow but, for me, all the seasons are sensational as the year goes along so why not give us a call and book one of our beautiful Country Hideaways holiday cottages. Call me, Nadine, or my daughter Joanne, on 01969 663559 to book over the telephone and for friendly help and advice or, of course, do book online if you prefer.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you quite soon!